impostor syndrome

Or im·post·er syn·drome

[im-pos-ter sin-drohm]

noun

Psychology.

1. anxiety or self-doubt that results from persistently undervaluing one’s competence and active role in achieving success, while falsely attributing one's accomplishments to luck or other external forces.

Word History and Origins

Origin of impostor syndrome¹

Coined in 1978 by Pauline Rose Clance (born 1938) and Suzanne Imes (born 1944), U.S. psychologists, in a psychology journal article “The Imposter Phenomenon in High Achieving Women: Dynamics and Therapeutic Intervention”

Example Sentences

The arbitrary nature of this career, how the impostor syndrome was enormous in him.

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Because the panic, the self-doubt, the impostor syndrome, all those things we don’t talk about — it happens on every movie.

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Does it count as impostor syndrome, I wondered, if you are actually an impostor?

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The novel is propulsive because Lola, like the moon she teaches about, cycles through desperate impostor syndrome, moments of frustrating narcissism, and quietly asking herself the question many of us do at some point: Is this the year I finally get it together?

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In the beginning, they said, “there was a little more Mr. Bean energy about it, which we fixed in the editing. I fell in love with acting in this role. I have impostor syndrome about that and to work with Sarah and Toni, it gave me permission to be an actor.”

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When To Use

What is impostor syndrome?

Impostor syndrome is a psychological pattern of self-doubt in the face of evidence to the contrary—like that voice in your head that tells you you're not good enough. The phrase and concept is especially used in reference to women and members of minority groups who feel they've achieved undue or undeserving success in the workplace.